New Airplane Give-Away

F9DXER

F9DXER

Well-Known Member
I ask myself why?

If AOPA, along with other organizations, are there to support GA and I always read articles about not enough people are earning a pilots license or have given up on flying because of the cost. Why then do they (AOPA) continue to give away an airplane every year?

As much as I would love to have one, it would serve me no purpose. In fact if I were to win it. I would decline it.

Why can't those companies/organizations offer us something that, IMO, would be more practical? How about the following options:


New Student - chance to win your PPL
Have a PPL - ME or IR or CPL
CPL - ME - CFI/CFII - ATP

other options

10 hours of ME rental from your local FBO
25 hours of SE rental from your local FBO

The combinations are almost endless - also there could be multiply winners in each catagory.

Of course the reimbursement costs should be based on either the national average or the average for your area and will only be paid after you receive the license or rating for which you have won.


So for those that would like to upgrade your ratings/license - how much of a factor would something like this be in getting people back into or to start flying?
 
But if they don't give the planes away to people who fly for a living and already own a few airplanes how can they be sure the plane will be flown?


I didn't renew my AOPA membership this year, partly because of the giveaway, but mostly because I think they've lost touch like NAFI did. When I expressed my concerns all I got was a letter with the contest rules and a "better luck next time" response. To that end I voted with my feet.
 
I didn't renew my AOPA membership this year either because I believe they have lost touch with what is important.

Joe
 
there are other things included in the prize sometimes... for instance, when they gave away the Twin Comanche a few years ago a multi rating was included.

and I always laugh a little when people get all huffy because it went to someone who already owned an airplane. It's a random drawing.
I think If you only look at the airplane you only see half the picture... if you read the articles you would see that they do a very excellent job of showcasing the vendors and the work that went into the airplane as well. How much business do you think those interior shops and avionics shops get because people saw their work in Pilot?
 
If you win it, give it to me and I'll cover the taxes.

I'd like a new (refurbed or whatever, as long as the ADs are good and I'm not going to have to buy an overhaul in 6 mos) plane that could haul me and the family.
 
The new plane is a huge marketing monster for all of the shops and facilities that participate in the refurbishment process.

After they dropped the ball on CA AB48 I was done. I responded to a 'survey' with at least a page of thoughts and concerns but it fell on deaf ears I'd assume.
 
How do you expect to effect change at AOPA if your a non-member. They may drop the ball now and again, but look at what they did for user fee's. And what about all the airports they have kept open? They may be a little out of touch, but as I see it, they are the major power of keeping GA's flying qualities as free as they are. And I'm not talking about weekend warriors. I'm talking about anything thats not a 121 operation.
 
mshunter said:
How do you expect to effect change at AOPA if your a non-member. They may drop the ball now and again, but look at what they did for user fee's. And what about all the airports they have kept open? They may be a little out of touch, but as I see it, they are the major power of keeping GA's flying qualities as free as they are. And I'm not talking about weekend warriors. I'm talking about anything thats not a 121 operation.
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Certainly agree with you, I just mainly haven't been strongly motivated to renew. Maybe on the 124th email they send me will convince me ;)
 
mshunter said:
How do you expect to effect change at AOPA if your a non-member. They may drop the ball now and again, but look at what they did for user fee's. And what about all the airports they have kept open? They may be a little out of touch, but as I see it, they are the major power of keeping GA's flying qualities as free as they are. And I'm not talking about weekend warriors. I'm talking about anything thats not a 121 operation.
Click to expand...

How do you change an organization that won't listen to it's unwilling to hear what it's members have to say?
 
Polar742 said:
I thought it was a refurbed 182 for some reason.
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The 182 is next (2011) years plane. Why AOPA decided that in September of 2010, we need to know what the plane they give away in February of 2012 is, is beyond me. I'd like to see them put the Katmai STOL kit on the thing, but it isn't going to happen.
 
i just want to understand here... you guys are complaining about what? you dont like their choice of free airplanes as a way to maintain new/continuing memberships? Look, im not the biggest fan of AOPA, but it is, overall a great benefit to people like you and me who fly for fun/living and dont want to pay for all of the services out of pocket. we are lucky to have the man lobbying for us. its not perfect by any means, but what is written above is right, if you want to change it, change it, dont run away from it. yes, its a big corporation with significant conflicting interests, but it does have a lot of good things going.
 
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